Santa Barbara Timeline Mosaic

2016 - 2019 Activity Summary

To our patient supporters of the Santa Barbara Timeline Mosaic project: We want to thank you for your continued patience with the project that is taking longer than expected.  Here is the history and status of the project to date: 

2016
Betsy Gallery, lead mosaic artist, sees photos of the 100 foot long Queenhithe Dock Mosaic, installed along London’s historic Thames River, which tells the story of this city from its founding in Roman times in 55 BCE to modern times.  Betsy contacted its creators, then called Southbank Mosaics, now the London School of Mosaic. David Toothill, founder and principal of Southbank Mosaics and LSM, facilitated documents and information to assists the Santa Barbara project.  Betsy envisions a legacy mosaic for Santa Barbara and expands the concept to include all of Santa Barbara County back to prehistory. The Jurassic Period was chosen as a cut-off point for its name recognition.

2017
Betsy sends a letter describing the proposed project to then SB Mayor Helene Schneider. A productive meeting with the mayor led to referrals to the SB Office of Arts & Culture and other potential sources of assistance. Robin Elander joins the project as manager.
Betsy continues research for potential data points to illustrate, such as geological, paleontological, anthropological, botanical, wildlife and historical events and persons. She receives assistance from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the SB Historic Museum, The Presidio of SB, The Trust for Historic Preservation, the Asian American History Advisory Board, UCSB Department of Marine Science, Chumash tribal members and other educational institutions as well as Sonos, which identified potential for an audio component.
David Toothill and Sylvie Jacobi from the London School of Mosaic conduct a workshop for professional mosaic artists at Menelli Trading Company in Montecito and offered a scholarship to their London school for a selected mosaic participant to be awarded at the end of the SB project.
Efforts to find an installation site for the finished mosaic begin. Betsy and Robin meet several times with SB Parks & Recreation personnel. We determine that the site needs to be easily accessible to locals as well as visitors to our area, and on a property large enough to allow groups to view the mosaic during docent tours. The area of Chase Palm Park was identified as ideal.

2018
Three months of free mosaic classes are provided to community volunteers who want to help fabricate the mosaic.  Paseo Nuevo generously provides workshop space on State St. (This leads to a mosaic project at the local La Cuesta Continuation School when some of their students visit the workshop.)
Robin and Betsy meet with Mayor Cathy Murillo, who gives her encouragement to the project.
Donations and reservations for name plaques and tiles begin to be received, but do not cover expenses to date.  It is observed that without a firm commitment of an installation site, major grants and donations will be difficult to obtain.  Robin and Betsy continue to seek an installation site as the project priority.

2019
Robin and Betsy meet with a prominent local planning and permitting professional, who introduces them to potential developers for an oceanfront project.  The developers are enthusiastic. However, the project changes mid-year and a new developer is contracted, who revised the construction plan, which has been resubmitted to the City for approval.  Once the new plans are approved the project planner will arrange for Robin and Betsy to present the SB Timeline Mosaic project to the new developer.  Meanwhile, other potential installation sites continue to be explored.

We appreciate the patience and support of our many contacts over the years of this project.  Once we have confirmed an installation site, we will renew our fundraising, find a site for a fabrication workshop and renew our classes to teach volunteers the basics of mosaic making so that community members of all ages (from 13) and abilities can participate in this legacy public art project.  We thank all who believe in the Santa Barbara Timeline Mosaic!

Warmly,  

BETSY GALLERY
Lead Mosaic Artist

ROBIN ELANDER
Project Manager

DOWNLOAD SPONSORSHIP & DONOR BENEFITS

Make a tax - deductible donation to the SB Timeline Mosaic via Fractured Atlas, our fiscal sponsor. 
Our phase 1 goal is to raise $15,000 to begin the free, bilingual community workshops! 

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About the Project

The Santa Barbara Timeline Mosaic project began in February 2017 when Santa Barbara mosaic artist Betsy Gallery first saw images of the London Queenhithe Dock mosaic showing London’s history from Roman times to the present. Santa Barbara's mosaic will become an educational site for locals and visitors alike, illustrating important historical, environmental and cultural events central to our local heritage.  Installed in a prominent and accessible location in the city of Santa Barbara, the mosaic will show how our environment and community have changed over time.

The fabrication of the mosaic, estimated at approximately 5 x 50 feet, will involve volunteers from diverse sectors of the population. This will be a mosaic for the people by the people. Classes and workshops will present opportunities for the community to learn mosaic fabrication skills. The mosaic will be designed to last 500 years and be a catalyst for how our shared spaces can be re-imagined as places to meet, talk and enjoy the attractiveness of our very special place on the map.

Click here to Read the Santa Barbara News-Press Article

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For more information or to get involved in the Santa Barbara Timeline Mosaic Project contact Project Administrator:
Robin Elander at 805-216-1223 or email globalgoodimpact@gmail.com
UPCOMING EVENTS, WORKSHOPS AND PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES.